Cabinet structure



March 22, 1966 a. 1.. WAYBRIGHT CABINET STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 24, 1964 Burgess L. Waybr/ghf 55w; WM

v I J March 22, 1966 Filed Nov. 24, 1964 Fig.3

B. L. WAYBRIGHT 3341,91

CABINET STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

Burgws a l. Wmwriglvf United States Patent 3,241,901 CABINET STRUCTUREBurgess L. Waybright, Buffalo St, Box 157, Rowlesburg, W. Va. Filed Nov.24, 1964, Ser. No. 413,533 Claims. (Cl. 312201) This invention relatesto a novel and useful cabinet structure and more specifically to acabinet structure which may be mounted from any suitable supportingsurface such as a wall or the like and which may be utilized to housevarious types of articles in a manner such that access to the articleshoused thereby may be readily gained.

The cabinet structure of the instant invention basically includes anupstanding housing which is adapted to be secured to any suitablevertical supporting surface such as a wall. A horizontally disposed andelongated receptacle is provided and has one end slightly disposedbetween the opposite sides of the supporting housing whose front end isopen. The receptacle is pivotally secured to the housing for rotationabout an axis extending between the opposite sides of the lower portionof the end of the receptacle received within the open front of thehousing. In this manner, the housing may be pivoted from its horizontalopen position to an upstanding position with its free swinging enddisposed uppermost.

The housing and receptacle of the cabinet structure of the instantinvention additionally include coacting abutment means limiting downwardswinging movement of the free end of the receptacle to a position inwhich the receptacle is substantially horizontally disposed. In thismanner, the receptacle may be pivoted from its upright storage positionto a substantially horizontally disposed position and retained in thathorizontally disposed position by means of the coacting abutment means.Accordingly, the hands of the user of the cabinet are free to Withdrawwhatever articles are needed.

Although the cabinet structure of the instant invention is illustratedand described herein as being constructed on somewhat a small scale andparticularly adapted for supporting small articles, it is to be notedthat it may also be constructed on a large scale for supporting andenclosing other types of articles. The cabinet structure, as describedherein, is provided with a receptacle including a bottom wall and it istobe also noted that the bottom Wall could be omitted if desired andreplaced by a flexible member which would be supported only at the outerend of the receptacle and hang more or less freely when the receptacleis in its upright stored position. In this manner, articles such asclothing could be supported within the receptacle and allowed to hangdown in a vertical position when the receptacle is in a horizontalposition.

The cabinet structure, when constructed on a small scale in order tocomprise storage means for small parts and the like, provides a meanswhereby inventory of numerous small parts may be readily made. Further,the receptacle portion of the cabinet structure may be readily modifiedso as tobe particularly well adapted to house and support various typesof articles.

In addition to being utilized for storage of small parts and articles aswell as clothing, the cabinet structure of the instant invention is alsoparticularly well adapted as a filing cabinet and it may be mounted insubstantially any location such as a wall, on a horizontal surface, inwhich instance the receptacle may remain horizontally disposed and thehousing may be utilized as a hinged cover for the receptacle, and inmany other environments. In addition, the cabinet structure of theinstant invention is particularly well adapted to be provided with ice asuitable lock means for preventing unauthorized entrance thereinto andthe cabinet structure of the instant invention may be constructed in amanner so as to include several receptacles instead of a singlereceptacle as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The main object of this invention is to provide a useful cabinetstructure including structural components particularly well adapting itfor use in storing and supporting various types of articles.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a cabinet structure that may besupported in various positions and in various environments.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet structure whichwill have a pleasing appearance and which may be stored in a verticallydisposed position as well as a horizontally disposed position.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a cabinet structure in accordance with the preceding objectswhich will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the cabinet structure of theinstant invention shown with the receptacle portion thereof in a closedposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet structure shown with thereceptacle portion thereof in an open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing through the center of the cabinet structure illustrated inFIG. 1 and With parts thereof being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the planeindicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 butshowing the receptacle portion of the cabinet structure in an openposition;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lower portion of thecabinet structure with portions of the housing and the receptacleportion of the cabinet structure being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bag-type of hanger to be utilized inthe receptacle portion of the cabinet structure for supporting smallarticles; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of cabinetstructure showing the manner in which a single housing may have aplurality of receptacle portions pivotally supported therefrom.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-7 inparticular, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the cabinetstructure of the instant invention which includes a housing generallyreferred to by the reference numeral 12. The housing 12 is in the formof an upstanding generally U-shaped channel member including a pair ofopposite side walls 14 and 16 interconnected by means of an integralbackwall 18. The opposite side walls 14 and 16 are bevelled as at 20 and22 so as to diminish toward their upper end portions.

The upper end of the backwall 13 includes laterally outwardly anddownwardly bent supporting tongue portion 24 which is adapted to beengaged over any suitable supporting flange (not shown) of a bracketdesigned to support the cabinet structure 10. In addition, the lower endportions of the opposite side walls 14 and 16 include inwardly andrearwardly bent abutment flanges 26 and 28 which define upstandingpockets 38 and 32.

Each of the housings 12 includes a receptacle generally referred to bythe reference numeral 34 and including a pair of opposite side walls 36and 38 interconnected at their opposite ends by means of a front wall 40and a rear wall 42. In addition, the lower edge portions of the sidewalls 36 and 38 and the end walls 40 and 42 are interconnected by meansof a bottom wall 44.

The rear wall 42 extends beyond the side walls 36 and 38 and includesforwardly directed portions 46 and 48 secured to the inner surfaces ofthe rear portions of the side walls 36 and 38. Further, the rear ends ofthe side walls 36 and 38 include reversely bent portions 47 and 49defining upstanding pockets 50 and 52. In addition, the side walls 14and 16 and the flange portions 26 and 28 are provided with alignedapertures 54 and 56 which are registrable with corresponding pairs ofaligned apertures 58 and 60 formed in the side Walls 36 and 38 and thereversely bent portions 47 and 49.

The rear end of the receptacle 34 is received between the forward edgeportions of the lower ends of the side walls 14 and 16 and a pair ofpivot fasteners 62 are secured through corresponding sets of apertures54, 56, 58 and 60.

From FIG. 6 of the drawings it may be seen that the rearwardly directedportions 26 and 28 are received within the upstanding pockets 50 and 52and the reversely bent portions 47 and 49 are received in the upstandingpockets 30 and 32. In this manner, the free front end of the receptacle34 may not be lowered past the position illustrated in FIG. 2 of thedrawings inasmuch as the inwardly and rearwardly directed portions 26and 28 and the reversely bent portions 47 and 49 comprise coactingabutment means which are engageable with each other to limit downwardswinging movement of the forward free end of the receptacle 34 relativeto the housing 12.

From FIGS. 2 and 7 of the drawings it may be seen that the uppermarginal edge portions of the side walls 36 and 38 are turned inwardlyand downwardly so as to define horizontal flange portions 66 and 68which are suitably apertured as at 70. A plurality of hanger assembliesgenerally referred to by the reference numerals 72 are provided and eachassembly 72 includes an open top bag 74 having a generally U-shapedhanger member 76 secured to its upper end portion and including oppositeend downwardly directed portions 78 which are receivable in theapertures 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Whatever small articles are to be supported within the receptacle 34 maybe placed within a bag 74 and positioned within the receptacle 34 asdesired merely by placing the downwardly directed end portion 78 in thedesired aperture 70.

With attention now invited to FIG. 7 of the drawings there will be seena modified form of cabinet structure generally referred to by thereference numeral 82 and including a housing generally referred to bythe reference numeral 84 and a plurality of receptacles generallyreferred to by the reference numerals 86, 88, and 90. The housing 84 isformed in substantially the same manner as the housing 12 with theexception that the side walls 92 thereof project considerably furtherforwardly of the back wall (not shown) thereof. The receptacles 86, 88and 90 are substantially identical to the receptacle 34 excepting thatthey are of different lengths and pivotally supported from the housing84 by means of individual sets of pivot fasteners 96, 98, and 100,respectively.

The lower portions of the side walls 92 of the housing 84 are turnedinwardly and rearwardly for limiting downward movement of the receptacle86 in the same manner in which the inwardly and rearwardly directedportions 26 and 28 are formed. However, the receptacles 88 and 90 do notneed these inwardly and rearwardly directed portions inasmuch as theycannot be pivoted to their horizontally disposed positions until suchtime as the receptacle 86 is pivoted to its horizontal position. Afterthe receptacle 86 has been pivoted to its horizontal position, thereceptacle 86 comprises the requisite stop engageable by the receptacle88 to limit its swinging movement toward the horizontal position andthereafter the receptacle 88 defines the requisite stop for limitingswinging movement of the receptacle 90 toward its horizontal position.Accordingly, it may be seen that when the cabinet structure isconstructed so as to provide a plurality of receptacles in a singlehousing only one set of inwardly and rearwardly directed flange portionssuch as flange portions 26 and 28 are needed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cabinet structure comprising a housing including a pair ofgenerally parallel upstanding opposite side wall portions supported instationary relation relative to each other and including correspondingupstanding front edge portions, a receptacle including a pair ofhorizontally elongated and upstanding sides suitably interconnected andhaving one rear end portion received between said front edge portionsand the forward end thereof projecting outwardly of the open front endof said housing, means pivotally securing the lower portion of the rearend portion of said receptacle within said housing for rotation about anaxis extending between said side walls, .the front edge portions of saidside wall portions and the rear edge .portions of said sides includingupstanding inwardly and outwardly laterally offset and coacting abutmentpanel-like flange means, respectively, said receptacle being supportedfrom said housing for swinging movement about said axis between ahorizontally disposed position with the front end portion thereofprojecting outwardly of the front of said housing and defined bysubstantially full length contact of said coacting abutment flange meansand a generally upstanding position with the front end portion of saidreceptacle swung upwardly and at least partially disposed between thefront edge portions of the upper end portions of said side wallportions, said inwardly and outwardly laterally offset abutment flangemeans comprising inwardly directed flange portions terminating inrearwardly directed free terminal end portions and outwardly directedflange portions terminating in forwardly directed terminal end portions,respectively.

2. A combination of claim 1 including at least one additionalhorizontally elongated receptacle pivotally sup-- ported between saidside wall portions for rotation about an axis extending through a lowerportion of the rearend of said one additional receptacle and disposedabove a horizontal plane containing the upper edges of the firstmentioned receptacle when the latter is in a horizontal position andrearwardly of an upstanding plane extending transversely of said housingand spaced rearwardly of the rearmost edge portions of said side wallportions of the first mentioned receptacle when the latter is in itsupright position.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a rear wall interconnecting saidside wall portions and defining an abutment surface for engagement bythe rearmost edge portions of said receptacle when the latter is in its,upstanding position.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a bottom wall extending betweenthe lower edge portions of said opposite sides and a rear wallinterconnecting the upstanding rear edge portions of said side wallportions. 5. A cabinet structure comprising a housing including a pairof generally parallel upstanding opposite side wall portions supportedin stationary relation relative to each other and includingcorresponding upstanding front edge portions, a receptacle including apair of horizontally elongated and upstanding sides suitablyinterconnect-ed and having one rear end portion received between saidfront edge portions and the forward end thereof projecting outwardly ofthe open front end of said housing, means pivotally securing the lowerportion of the rear end portion of said receptacle within said housingfor rotation about an axis extending between said side walls, the frontedge portions of said side wall portions and the rear edge portions ofsaid sides including inwardly and outwardly laterally offset andcoactin-g abutment flange means, respectively, said receptacle beingsupported from said housing for swinging movement about said axisbetween a horizontally disposed position with the front end portionthereof projecting outwardly of the front of said housing and defined bysaid abutment means and a generally upstanding position with the frontend portion of said receptacle swung upwardly and at least partiallydisposed between the front edge portions of the upper end portions ofsaid side wall portions, a

bottom wall extending between the lower edge portions of said oppositesides and a rear wall interconnecting the upstanding rear edge portionsof said side wall portions, at least one additional receptacle pivotallysecured between said side wall portions, said additional receptaclebeing horizontally elongated and disposed above the first mentionedreceptacle and mounted for rotation about an axis extending through alower portion of the rear end of the additional receptacle and spacedrearwardly and above vertical and horizontal planes containing the rearend of the first mentioned receptacle and the upper edge portions of thefirst mentioned receptacle, the upper edge portions of the oppositesides of the additional receptacle being engageable with the innersurface of said rear wall when said additional receptacle is swung toits upstanding position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,768 10/1891Andrews et al. 312328 X 579,196 3/1897 Vallandingham 312201 1,013,4131/1912 Marks 312328 X 1,929,095 10/1933 Hutchings 1 312327 X 2,181,44011/1939 Terry 312-328 X 2,880,918 4/1959 Schweikhard 312202 X CLAUDE A.LE ROY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLQR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. A CABINET STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HOUSING INCLUDING A PAIR OFGENERALLY PARALLEL UPSTANDING OPPOSITE SIDE WALL PORTIONS SUPPORTED INSTATIONARY RELATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND INCLUDING CORRESPONDINGUPSTANTIND FRONT EDGE PORTION, A RECEPTACLE INCLUDING A PAIR OFHORIZONTALLY ELONGATED AND UPSTANDING SIDES SUITABLY INTERCONNECTED ANDHAVING ONE REAR END PORTION RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID FRONT EDGE PORTIONSAND THE FORWARD END THEREOF PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF THE OPEN FRONT ENDOF SAID HOUSING, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING THE LOWER PORTIONS OF THE REAREND PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATION ABOUT ANAXIS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, THE FRONT EDGE PORTIONS OF SAIDSIDE WALL PORTIONS AND THE REAR EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SIDES INCLUDINGUPSTANDING INWARDLY AND OUTWARDL LATERALLY OFFSET AND COACTING ABUTMENTPANEL-LIKE FLANGE MEANS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID RECEPTACLE BEING SUPPORTEDFROM SAID HOUSING FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT SAID AXIS BETWEEN AHORIZONTALLY DIS-